Prevalence of elimination disorders and comorbid psychiatric disorders in Iranian children and adolescents

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mohammadi, Mohammad Reza^a | Hojjat, Seyed Kaveh^{b; p; *} | Ahmadi, Nastaran^c | Alavi, Seyed Salman^a | Hooshyari, Zahra^a | Khaleghi, Ali^a | Ahmadi, Ameneh^a | Hesari, Mahsa Jafarzadeh^b | Shakiba, Alia^a | Amiri, Shahrokh^d | Molavi, Parviz^e | Arman, Soroor^f | Mohammadzadeh, Soleiman^g | Kousha, Maryam^h | Golbon, Atiehⁱ | Hosseini, Seyed Hamzeh^j | Delpisheh, Ali^k | Mojahed, Azizollah^l | ArmaniKian, Alireza^m | Sarraf, Nasrinⁿ | Safavi, Parvin^o | Moharari, Fatemeh^p | Dastjerdi, Reza^q | Talepasand, Siavash^s | Jaberghaderi, Nasrin^r | Ostovar, Rahim^t | Salmanian, Maryam^a | Zarafshan, Hadi^a | Nazari, Ali^b | Haghbin, Ali^b | Khalili, Mina Norozi^b

Affiliations: [a] Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran | [b] Addiction and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran | [c] Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran | [d] Research Center of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran | [e] Department of Psychiatry, Fatemi Hospital, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran | [f] Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran | [g] Department of Psychiatry, Neuroscience Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran | [h] Department of Pediatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran | [i] Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran | [j] Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran | [k] Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine Psychosocial Injuries Research Center Ilam, University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran | [l] Department of Clinical Psychology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran | [m] Department of Psychiatry, Zanjan University of Medical Science, Zanjan, Iran | [n] Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran | [o] Clinical Research Development Unit, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran | [p] Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran | [q] Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran | [r] Department of Clinical Psychology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran | [s] Semnan University, Semnan, Iran | [t] Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Seyed Kaveh Hojjat, Addiction and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Deputy of Research and Technology, 7 Shahriar Street, North Khorasan Province, Bojnurd, Iran. Tel.: +98 5832296764; E-mail: S.kavehhojjat1@gmail.com.

Abstract: PURPOSE: Currently, there is a paucity of studies on the prevalence of Elimination Disorders among Iranian children and adolescents. Due to the ongoing need to monitor the health status of these children and adolescents, the present study aims to investigate the prevalence of Elimination Disorders and comorbid disorders in Iranian children and adolescents. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 29,781 children and adolescents age 6 to 18 years old were selected and studied from all the provinces in Iran. The sampling was carried out by employing a multistage cluster sampling method, and several clinical psychologists using semi-structured interviews collected the data. Furthermore, clinical psychologists collected demographic information (including information about gender, age, place of residence, education level, and parental education level). The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Generally, the prevalence of Elimination Disorders was found to be 5.4% covering both enuresis (p= 5.4, 95% CI = 5.1–5.7) and encopresis (p= 0.13, 95% CI = 0.09–0.2). The total prevalence of comorbid disorders was 38%, and among the comorbid disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (p= 11, 95% CI = 9.5–12.7) and Separation Anxiety (p= 10.6, 95% CI = 9.1–12.2) were the most prevalent. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of Elimination Disorders in Iranian children and adolescents is moderate compared to similar studies elsewhere. As for comorbid disorders, ADHD and Separation Anxiety were found to be the most prevalent disorders. Since Elimination Disorders coexist with psychiatric disorders in children, further studies of these comorbidities may give better insight into the treatment and prognosis of Elimination Disorders.

Keywords: Prevalence, Elimination Disorders, enuresis, encopresis, comorbid psychiatric disorders

DOI: 10.3233/PRM-190628

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 19-29, 2021